Hybrid Tea rose plant named &#39;Meitroni&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided that forms at mid-season abundantly and substantially continuously attractive highly fragrant Orient Pink blossoms. The buds are substantially conical-shaped. The vegetation is very strong and attractive glossy dark green foliage is formed. Excellent resistance to Marsonia is displayed. The plant is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Hybrid Tea Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meitroni

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Hybrid Tea rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross of the ‘Tanrowisa’ variety (non-patented in theUnited States) and the ‘Meimalyna’ variety (non-patented in the UnitedStates). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Harkuly’variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Harkuly’ varietysometimes is known as the ‘Margaret Merril’ variety.(‘Tanrowisa’×‘Meimalyna’)×‘Harkuly’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Hybrid Tea rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) forms very strong vegetation,    -   (b) forms large substantially conical-shaped buds,    -   (c) forms at mid-season abundantly and substantially        continuously attractive highly fragrant Orient Pink blossoms,    -   (d) displays attractive glossy dark green foliage,    -   (e) displays excellent resistance to Marsonia,    -   (f) is particularly well suited for providing attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in parks and gardens. The disease tolerance isgood particularly with respect to Marsonia.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the blossom coloration is considerably different from that ofthe ‘Tanrowisa’, ‘Meimalyna’, and ‘Harkuly’ varieties. Morespecifically, the ‘Tanrowisa’ variety forms blossoms that are pink onthe upper surface and silver on the under surface, the ‘Meimalyna’variety forms medium red blossoms, and the ‘Harkuly’ variety forms whiteblossoms.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another.

The new variety has been named ‘Meitroni’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observedduring May while budded on Rosa laxa understock and growing outdoors atLe Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters areindicated at the bottom of the photograph, as is a standard colorcomparison.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a bud before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thepistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf withseven leaflets—plan view—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of one-year-old plants during May which were budded onRosa laxa understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var,France.

-   Class: Hybrid Tea.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—approximately 90 to 100 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—approximately 60 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146C with some            Greyed-Orange Group 175C and 175D. adult wood: near            Yellow-Green Group 148A.        -   Thorns.—on young stems: small prickles: quantity: none. long            prickles: configuration: upright. quantity: approximately 6            on average on a stem length of 10 cm. length: approximately            0.8 cm on average. color: greyed-orange in coloration. on            adult stems: small prickles: quantity: approximately 4 on            average on a stem length of 10 cm. length: approximately 0.7            cm on average. color: near Greyed-Orange Group 164A. long            prickles: configuration: curved downwards on the upper            surface, and concave on the under surface with an oval base.            quantity: approximately 18 on average on a stem length of            10 cm. length: approximately 0.8 cm on average. Color: near            Grey-Brown Group 199B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—smooth, adnate, pectinate, and rather broad.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B in            coloration. under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147C in            coloration. length: approximately 2 cm for the terminal            leaflet on average. texture: non-glandular on the upper            surface, and with a very few prickles on the under surface.        -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 148C in            coloration. under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 148A in            coloration. texture: smooth.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. shape: generally            elliptical with a cuspidate tip and a rounded and obtuse            base. size: the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately            5 to 7 cm in length on average and approximately 3.5 to 4.8            cm in width on average. serration: small and single (as            illustrated). texture: physically firm and thick. color            (young foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A            suffused with near Greyed-Orange Group 175C and 175D. under            surface: near Greyed-Orange Group 177A. color (adult            foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A. under            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 1 to 3 blossoms            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—smooth, approximately 5 cm in length on average,            approximately 0.3 cm in diameter on average, and near Green            Group 143C with some Greyed-Orange Group 175C and 175D in            coloration.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            147D in coloration. under surface: smooth and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C with some Greyed-Orange Group 175C            and 175D in coloration. size: approximately 3.5 cm in length            on average, and approximately 1.1 cm in width at the widest            point on average.        -   Buds.—shape: substantially conical. size: large. length:            approximately 4.5 cm on average. width: approximately 4.5 cm            at the widest point on average. color as calyx breaks: upper            surface: near Red Group 36C, and suffused with near Red            Group 56C. under surface: near Red Group 36C.        -   Flower.—shape: cup-shaped. diameter: approximately 13 to 14            cm on average. color (in the course of opening): upper            surface: near Red Group 36C suffused with near Red Group            56C. under surface: near Red Group 36C. spot at base: near            Yellow-Green Group 150C and commonly bearing a tiny spot of            Red Group 36C. upper side: near Red Group 36C. color (open            flower): upper side: near Red Group 36D. underside: near Red            Group 36D. spot at base: on the under surface near            Yellow-Green Group 150C and commonly bearing a tiny spot of            Red Group 36C. color stability: very slight change with age.            fragrance: highly fragrant and similar to that of Rosy            Verbena. lasting quality: the blossoms commonly last            approximately 9 days on the plant on average. Since the            plant is primarily intended for growing outside, the vase            life of the blossoms has not been evaluated to date. petal            number: approximately 37 on average under normal growing            conditions. petal shape: with a substantially rounded tip            and an obtuse base. petal texture: consistent and somewhat            firm. petal length: approximately 5.4 cm on average. petal            width: approximately 4.7 cm on average. petal arrangement:            imbricated, and without petaloids. petal drop: good with the            petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying. stamen            number: approximately 166 on average. anthers: regularly            arranged in a whorl around the styles, approximately 0.3 cm            in size on average, and near Yellow-Orange Group 21A in            coloration. pollen: present, and near Yellow Group 4D in            coloration. filaments: variable in length and approximately            0.2 to 0.8 cm in length on average, and near Yellow-Orange            Group 21C in coloration. pistils: approximately 159 on            average. stigmas: approximately 0.1 cm in size on average,            and near Yellow Group 4D in coloration. styles:            approximately 0.2 cm in length on average, and near Red            Group 53A in coloration. receptacle: smooth, funnel-shaped            in longitudinal section, approximately 0.9 cm in length on            average, approximately 1.2 cm in width on average at the            widest point, and near Green Group 143C in coloration. hips:            present.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—very strong.        -   Blooming.—mid-season, abundant and substantially continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—excellent, particularly with respect            to Marsonia.        -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—sparse to medium under observations            to date.

1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant characterized by thefollowing characteristics: (a) forms very strong vegetation, (b) formslarge substantially conical-shaped buds, (c) forms at mid-seasonabundantly and substantially continuously attractive highly fragrantOrient Pink blossoms, (d) displays attractive glossy dark green foliage,(e) displays excellent resistance to Marsonia, (f) is particularly wellsuited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape;substantially as shown and described.